10 Facts That Make Us Doubt How Well We Know the World

Modern humans appeared 200,000 years ago, but we still don’t know everything there is to know about our world. But we can actually benefit from this situation. For example, after reading this article, you’ll have 10 interesting facts to impress your friends with and steal the show.

Bright Side found 10 facts that can make us see the world from a different perspective.

1. Spiderweb is stronger than steel.

Spider silk is tougher and stronger than steel due to its resistance to deformation and elasticity. Spiderwebs can be stretched 2 to 4 times their length without breaking, and they have the best qualities of steel and rubber. It’s even believed that a pencil-thick web can stop a plane in flight.

2. Owls don’t have eyeballs.

Instead of eyeballs, owls have eye tubes or cylinders; that’s why their eyes don’t move in their eye sockets. Their eyes are held by bony structures in the skull, and you can even see their eyes through their ears.

3. Frogs have teeth.

Carnivorous frogs have two kinds of teeth: ones on the upper jaw or lower jaw. The teeth are small, not bigger than half a millimeter. They have a conical shape and are replaced periodically.

4. Whales sleep vertically.

Whales sleep motionless and vertically toward the surface. It’s also believed that they sleep with one eye open and half of their brain awake. They’re considered the least sleep-dependent animals, as they nap for only 10-15 minutes.

5. Apples, potatoes, and onions taste the same.

It might not seem like it, but if you block your sense of smell, you won’t tell the difference between them. Make sure you close your eyes as well if you do the experiment.

6. Onions make you sleepy.

Onions can actually help you combat insomnia as they act as natural sedatives. They reduce stress and lower blood sugar levels. Eating them before bed might help you get a better night’s rest, however, it can also provoke heartburn in some people.

7. Otters hold hands while sleeping.

When the weather conditions are unfavorable, and the river starts flowing rapidly, otters hold hands while sleeping so that they stay together. Besides, males hold their mates by the hand to show everyone that the female has already been taken.

8. Woodpeckers have an abnormally long tongue.

In fact, a woodpecker’s tongue is so long that it wraps around its head, between the skull and the skin. The length varies from 15 cm up to 35 cm and it extends behind the nostrils and eyes, and coils behind the skull, actually helping to protect the brain by minimizing friction. It’s only after all this that it reaches the mouth.

9. Horses can see almost 360 degrees.

Since horses’ eyes are located on the sides of their heads, they can see almost 360 degrees. That’s why they have no difficulty in seeing what’s behind them without turning around. Besides, horses have the biggest eyes among land mammals, and their height is also an advantage.

10. Pigeons produce fake milk.

Although pigeons don’t have mammary glands, they still manage to produce the so-called “crop milk.” It’s stored in a pouch in the adult birds’ throats, and it’s highly nutritious for squabs.

What other facts do you know? What facts are actually common myths?